Students Learn about Interactive Robotics during The King Center's Camp N.O.W

Encouraging students to use critical thinking and leadership skills for nonviolence, the King Center's Camp NOW engages students in technology and entrepreneurship. As participants,MantisOpenSTEM shows how robotics can play a part in their futures.

By: MantisOpenSTEM.com

Laron Walker, MantisOpenSTEM CEO, mentors students at The MLK Center's Camp Now

ATLANTA - July 7, 2016 - PRLog -- MantisOpenSTEM extended its STEM Immersion Workshops to feature a special innovative session at The Martin Luther King Center's Camp N.O.W. last week. Mantis STEM gave a special presentation regarding robotics and 3D printing. In a program that sets out to build tomorrow's innovator, Camp N.O.W. (Nonviolence Opportunity Watch) integrates best practices in the areas of technology, entrepreneurship, health and fitness, and environmental justice. Mantis offered an exciting way to engage the young teens.

The inquisitive minds of the 13-18 year olds in attendance learned the process in which the Mantis robots are designed and created. In addition, they learned the relevance of industrial and electrical engineering as it relates to the advancement of technology and robotics. Students were able to view the Mantis STEMTank being printed live on the Dremel 3D printer. After Mantis representatives discussed the full process of designing, printing, and constructing, students were able to physically drive the robots using the Microsoft Surface.

Core values of Camp N.O.W. were emphasized and engaged students were encouraged to use critical thinking, along with leadership skills, and discussed how they would advocate for nonviolence. Students also contemplated how robotics could lead to future business ventures, especially after learning how affordable the robots are with regard to revenue and expenditure. Students were able to transition and learn applications that related to other sensors and probes that communicate with the Mantis app on the Google Play and Apple stores.

Students conferred on using the climate sensor in community gardens, to track weather like meteorologists, and in darkrooms for photography. Ideas for real life applications using the Mantis force motion sensor include simulating car crashes to improve safety requirements and also to use them in sports by implanting the sensor in a football player's helmet or in the football.

As the discussion session concluded, one of the students gave an analysis of his Camp N.O.W. experience stating, "I learned how to incorporate an app to control a robot via Bluetooth. I also learned about the different components used to make a robot and that there is coding required to make the robot function. This camp has inspired me because when I grow up I am going to become a coder. It was impressive to see the printer print out a robot because I've only seen one print out toys."

After students were able to drive the Mantis STEMTank and STEMBot, MantisOpenSTEM CEO, Laron Walker, was able to present the value of the STEM Immersion Workshops to CEO of The King Center, Dr. Bernice A. King. He spoke about how students within our schools and community organizations can design and create their own robots. With Mantis custom electronic boards, they would be able to drive and maneuver the robots.

Over 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said to a group of high school students "Young friends, doors are opening to you - doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and your fathers - and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to face these doors as they open."

MantisOpenSTEM would like to think that by accepting the invitation to bring the MantisOpenSTEM innovation session to the King Center, those in attendance will be open and excited to pursue opportunities in the STEM fields.

About The King Center's Camp NOW: The King Center's Camp N.O.W. hosted its 5th year in 2016. The 2-week experience was held June 20-30 as a day camp for 13-18 year olds. Through the program, youth build leadership skills and learn about Nonviolence365™, Dr. King, Jr.'s nonviolent way of thinking and living. Technology was a featured component, as youth were engaged in film-making, coding, story-boarding and gaming sessions; and created games and apps based on Nonviolence365. The camp also included a Civil Rights Tour in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, with a walk across historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. PLUS, two interactive sessions with Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and youngest child of Dr. and Mrs. King.

About MantisOpenSTEM: With locations in Atlanta and Orlando, Mantis is a brand division of HipScience, LLC. HipScience is an embedded sensor company, embedding sensors so they talk and play with other relevant technology. The Mantis brand of sensors and probes is designed with STEM education in mind promoting an open platform and standards-based curriculum. With over 15 years of experience in the aerospace industry, the company has been designing and engineering sensors as education tools and commercial/industrial devices. Visit http://www.mantisopenstem.com to learn more.